Waldner

Waldner is a German industrial group headquartered in Wangen im Allgäu, founded in 1908 by Hermann Waldner as a sheet-metal workshop (Flaschnerei). Over more than a century it evolved from supplying dairy equipment to the Allgäu milk industry into a diversified technology group active in four main business fields: filling, closing and packaging machines; process and automation plants; laboratory fittings and containment solutions; and school and learning-space concepts. The group is led by Waldner Holding SE & Co. KG, which acts as the umbrella company for the operating businesses and around 14 subsidiaries. In fiscal year 2022/2023 the group reported 1,689 employees and revenue of 324 million euros. Waldner is regarded as one of the world's leading suppliers in the laboratory fittings industry. The company's product history includes the 1942 oval milking pail, the 1947 Milchpilz (a mushroom-shaped milk kiosk, 49 of which were built in the 1950s), the first Dosomat packaging machine in 1957, the first modular laboratory table in the early 1950s, and the Scala laboratory furniture line introduced in 2009. International expansion began in 1971 with branches in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium. More recent moves include the 2014 acquisition of Hohenloher Schulmöbelfabrik Schaffitzel, the 2022 acquisition of HAS Technologie GmbH, and the 2023 acquisition of LabSystems in Australia. The group also entered India in 2021 through a joint venture with GD Lab Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Waldner positions itself around the slogan "Antrieb Mensch" (driven by people) and a vision of enabling customers to secure the future of people through nutrition, health and education. Its main production site remains at the Wangen headquarters, where it has invested in new production halls, CNC machining and a powder-coating facility. The group runs a substantial apprenticeship program, with 114 apprentices as of October 2024.

Waldner's history began in 1908 when Hermann Waldner took over a sheet-metal workshop (Flaschnerei) in Wangen im Allgäu. As farmers in the Allgäu increasingly turned to dairy farming in the early 20th century, demand for dairy equipment grew, and the business shifted toward supplying that industry. In 1935 Anton Waldner, son of the founder, began developing the company's own products for the dairy industry. In 1942 Waldner introduced the oval milking pail, which was easier to handle than earlier milking buckets. By the end of the 1940s the company was producing typical Allgäu dairy items such as cheese-forming tables, cheese curd vats, measuring cups and milking pails. In 1945 it added woodworking and began making press tables and cheese molds. In the early 1950s Waldner developed the first modular laboratory table; strong demand turned laboratory furniture into a separate business field, initially serving the food industry and later also the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as school chemistry labs. In 1947 the company launched the Milchpilz, a mushroom-shaped kiosk for selling dairy products; 49 were built during the 1950s. In 1957 Waldner produced its first Dosomat packaging machine in Wangen, followed by school furniture in 1960. In 1971 it opened its first foreign branches in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium. In the 1980s the planning and production of school furnishings and science classrooms became an independent business field. In the late 1990s Waldner expanded its offering with isolators and containment systems for various industries. In 2006, at the Achema trade fair, it presented the Waldner media ceiling for research laboratories, integrating liquid media, gases, electricity and supply/exhaust air into the laboratory ceiling, enabling more flexible room layouts. In 2009 Waldner introduced the Scala laboratory furniture line as the successor to the mc6 system. At the end of 2010 a new 7,000-square-metre production hall opened at the Wangen headquarters, alongside investment in a machine concept and new production halls. In November 2014 Waldner acquired Hohenloher Schulmöbelfabrik Schaffitzel GmbH + Co. KG; the Hohenloher brand was retained and expanded domestically and abroad. At the end of March 2017 a new production hall for fume hoods and media carriers was inaugurated. In 2021 the group expanded into India through a joint venture with GD Lab Solutions Pvt. Ltd., focused on steel furniture. In August 2022 Waldner acquired the electrical engineering company HAS Technologie GmbH in Bodnegg, extending its capabilities in control, automation and electrical engineering. In 2023 it acquired LabSystems in Australia to open that regional market. Also in 2023 the production site at Wangen was restructured, with new CNC machines and a bar machining centre for the metal division, and a powder-coating facility planned for mid-2025. The group is led by Waldner Holding SE & Co. KG, which coordinates the activities of the business fields and 14 subsidiaries. In fiscal year 2022/2023 the group employed 1,689 people and generated revenue of 324 million euros. As of October 2024 it employed 114 apprentices and started the 2024 training year with 47 new trainees.

• 2026

  DOSOMAT move wins Red Dot Award 2026.

• 2023

  Acquisition of LabSystems in Australia; restructuring of Wangen production site.

• 2022

  Acquisition of HAS Technologie GmbH in Bodnegg.

• 2021

  Joint venture with GD Lab Solutions Pvt. Ltd. in India.

• 2017

  New production hall for fume hoods and media carriers inaugurated.

• 2014

  Acquisition of Hohenloher Schulmöbelfabrik Schaffitzel GmbH + Co. KG.

• 2010

  New 7,000 m² production hall opens at Wangen headquarters.

• 2009

  Introduction of the Scala laboratory furniture line.

• 2006

  Presentation of the Waldner media ceiling at Achema.

• 1990

  Late 1990s: expansion into isolators and containment systems.

• 1980

  School furnishings and science classrooms become an independent business field.

• 1971

  First foreign branches in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium.

• 1960

  Entry into school furniture.

• 1957

  First Dosomat packaging machine produced in Wangen.

• 1950

  Development of the first modular laboratory table.

• 1947

  Launch of the Milchpilz milk kiosk; 49 built in the 1950s.

• 1945

  Expansion into woodworking; production of press tables and cheese molds.

• 1942

  Introduction of the oval milking pail.

• 1935

  Anton Waldner begins developing own products for the dairy industry.

• 1908

  Hermann Waldner takes over a sheet-metal workshop in Wangen im Allgäu, founding the company.

Premium German engineering group providing holistic, human-centred solutions for nutrition, health and education; a leading global laboratory fittings supplier.

• DOSOMAT move

  Filling machine, winner of the Red Dot Award 2026.

• DOSOMAT filling and closing machines

  Used across many industries for liquid to pasty products.

• Scala laboratory furniture

  Laboratory furniture line introduced in 2009, successor to mc6.

• Ventus osciJET

  New generation laboratory fume hood.

• Waldner media ceiling

  Integrates liquid media, gases, electricity and air supply/exhaust into the laboratory ceiling.

• Milchpilz

  Mushroom-shaped milk kiosk, 49 built in the 1950s.

1. 1Abfüllanlagen, Prozessanlagen, Laborlösungen, MINT-Räume | Waldnerwaldner.de
2. 2Über uns - In vielen Produktwelten und Branchen zuhause | Waldnerwaldner.de
3. 3Alle aktuellen News der WALDNER Holding SE & Co. KGwaldner.de
4. 4Milchpilz: der kultige Pilzkiosk von Waldnerwaldner.de
5. 5Waldner (Unternehmen) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6Waldner – Wikidatawikidata.org